Mortgage deals available might surprise you

Could gloomy popular assumptions about how tough it is to get approved for a mortgage be scaring away large numbers of people who are qualified from even applying?

Could the same worries — I can’t come up with the big down payment I need, my credit scores are too low, my bank account has almost none of the “reserves” lenders want to see — put a needless damper on a housing recovery in the new year?

You bet. Lenders and economists will tell you flat out: The lack of accurate information about the availability of loan programs that are designed to address special needs is discouraging far too many consumers from even considering an application, much less shopping around.